Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Lysosomal Hydrolases01:22

Lysosomal Hydrolases

Lysosomes are the site for the degradation of macromolecules and biological polymers released during membrane trafficking events such as secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The membrane-enclosed area of the lysosome, called the lumen, contains hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment. These acid hydrolases are functional at a pH between 4.5 and 5 and are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, restoration of the plasma membrane,...
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Phagocytosis00:41

Phagocytosis

Cells pull particles inward and engulf them in spherical vesicles in an energy-requiring process called endocytosis. Phagocytosis (“cellular eating”) is one of three major types of endocytosis. Cells use phagocytosis to take in large objects—such as other cells (or their debris), bacteria, and even viruses.The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). It is perhaps unsurprising, that many...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

RNF216 Variants Found in Patients With Dementia, Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism, and Severe Ataxia Deregulate Autophagy.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2025
Same author

Orthotopic pituitary tumors generated by stereotaxic GC cell injection in immunocompetent rats.

Acta neuropathologica communications·2025
Same author

GCN2 upregulates autophagy in response to short-term deprivation of a single essential amino acid.

Autophagy reports·2025
Same author

A primary cilia-autophagy axis in hippocampal neurons is essential to maintain cognitive resilience.

Nature aging·2025
Same author

Targeting autophagy plus high-dose CDK4/6 inhibitors in advanced HR+HER2- breast cancer: A phase 1b/2 trial.

Med (New York, N.Y.)·2024
Same author

Role of Sphingosine Kinase 1 in Glucolipotoxicity-Induced Early Activation of Autophagy in INS-1 Pancreatic β Cells.

Cells·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

Autophagosomes and human diseases.

Isabelle Beau1, Maryam Mehrpour, Patrice Codogno

  • 1INSERM U984, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Paris-Sud 11, 92296 Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France.

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|January 25, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Macroautophagy, a cellular process, removes damaged components and is vital for cell survival and organ health. Understanding its molecular basis offers new therapeutic avenues for diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.

More Related Videos

Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond
09:00

Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond

Published on: July 27, 2013

Analyzing Starvation-Induced Autophagy in the Drosophila melanogaster Larval Fat Body
06:02

Analyzing Starvation-Induced Autophagy in the Drosophila melanogaster Larval Fat Body

Published on: August 4, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond
09:00

Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond

Published on: July 27, 2013

Analyzing Starvation-Induced Autophagy in the Drosophila melanogaster Larval Fat Body
06:02

Analyzing Starvation-Induced Autophagy in the Drosophila melanogaster Larval Fat Body

Published on: August 4, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Autophagosomes are key to macroautophagy, a cellular degradation pathway involving lysosomes.
  • The discovery of ATG genes has significantly advanced understanding of autophagosome formation and macroautophagy's molecular mechanisms.
  • Macroautophagy is crucial for cellular homeostasis, removing damaged organelles and protein aggregates, and is essential for organ function, development, and longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the fundamental role of macroautophagy in cellular processes and its implications for human health.
  • To highlight the significance of ATG genes in understanding the molecular basis of macroautophagy.
  • To underscore the potential of targeting macroautophagy for therapeutic interventions in various diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on autophagosome formation and macroautophagy.
  • Analysis of the roles of ATG genes in the macroautophagy pathway.
  • Examination of the link between macroautophagy dysfunction and human diseases.

Main Results:

  • Macroautophagy is an adaptive response to stress, maintaining ATP levels for cell survival.
  • Dysfunctional autophagy is implicated in numerous human diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders.
  • Modulating macroautophagy presents a significant challenge and opportunity for developing novel drug therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Macroautophagy is a critical cellular pathway with broad implications for health and disease.
  • Targeting macroautophagy holds promise for treating a wide range of human pathologies.
  • Further research into macroautophagy modulation is essential for advancing therapeutic strategies.